Effect of plasma treatment of Kevlar fabric on the tribological behavior of Kevlar fabric/phenolic composites

Pure and plasma-treated Kevlar fabrics were used to prepare Kevlar fabric/phenolic composites by consecutive dipping of the fabric in phenolic adhesive resin. The friction and wear performance of the resulting composites has been evaluated in a pin-on-disk wear tester at various dry-sliding conditions. The surface changes occurring on Kevlar fibers treated with air–plasma were analyzed by using X-ray photoelectron spectroscope (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscope (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Moreover, the impact of air–plasma treatment time and power on the friction and wear behavior of Kevlar fabric/phenolic composites composed of the air–plasma-treated Kevlar fabrics was systematically studied. It was found that plasma treatment can significantly improve the tribological performance of the prepared Kevlar fabric/phenolic composites; the best performance was after a plasma treatment at 50 W for 15 min. The plasma treatment generates oxygenic and nitrogenous groups on the surface of the fabric, coupled with an increase of the surface roughness, strengthening the bond between the Kevlar fabric and phenolic adhesive resin and hence improving the tribological properties of the Kevlar fabric/phenolic composites.